Emulsified resin-based loss circulation materials for low pressure formations

Abstract

Lost circulation material (LCM) compositions may include an epoxy resin, an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid, water, a crosslinker, and an optional cementitious and/or weighting agent. These LCM compositions may have a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf and may be capable of being injected through a drill bit of a drill string into a lost circulation zone in wellbores. Corresponding methods of eliminating or reducing lost circulation in a lost circulation zone from a well may include introducing these LCM compositions into the well.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A lost circulation material (LCM) composition comprising:
 5 to 75 wt % of an emulsified epoxy resin; 
 0.1 to 20 wt % of an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid; 
 5 to 25 wt % water; 
 1.4 to 1.7 wt % of a crosslinker; and 
 wherein the LCM composition has a thickening time ranging from 2 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes; and 
 wherein the LCM composition has a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf and is capable of being injected through a drill bit of a drill string into a lost circulation zone in wellbores. 
 
     
     
       2. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the LCM composition has a density of from about 70 pcf to about 79 pcf. 
     
     
       3. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the epoxy resin comprises at least one of bisphenol-A-epichlorohydrin epoxy resin, C12-C14 alkyl glycidyl ether derivatives, 2,3-epoxypropyl o-tolyl ether, 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, or combinations of these. 
     
     
       4. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the epoxy resin comprises bisphenol -A-epichlorohydrin epoxy resin and C12-C14 alkyl glycidyl ether. 
     
     
       5. The LCM composition of  claim 1  further comprising a reactive diluent comprising oxirane mono [(C12-C14)-alkyloxy) methyl] derivatives. 
     
     
       6. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the crosslinker comprises at least one of diethylenetriamine (DETA), diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA), polyoxypropylene diamine, or combinations of these. 
     
     
       7. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the LCM composition comprises from about 0 wt % to about 70 wt % cementitious and/or weighting agent. 
     
     
       8. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the LCM composition includes a cementitious and/or weighting agent. 
     
     
       9. The LCM composition of  claim 1 , where the cementitious and/or weighting agent comprises class G cement, barite (barium sulfate), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), ilmenite, or combinations of these. 
     
     
       10. A method of eliminating or reducing lost circulation in a lost circulation zone from a well, the method comprising:
 introducing a first lost circulation material (LCM) composition into the well, the first LCM composition comprising:
 an emulsified epoxy resin; 
 an emulsifier comprising a polyaminated fatty acid; 
 water; 
 1.4 to 1.7 wt % of a crosslinker; and 
 an optional cementitious and/or weighting agent selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), ilmenite, and a combination thereof, 
 
 wherein the LCM composition has a thickening time ranging from 2 hours to 3 hours and 45 minutes: and 
 wherein the first LCM composition has a density of from about 63 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 99 pcf. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising thickening the first LCM composition in the well. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising introducing a second LCM composition in the well after the thickening of the first LCM composition. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , where the first LCM composition has a density of from about 70 pcf to about 79 pcf. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , where the lost circulation zone is located in formations having pressures of from about 63 pcf to about 99 pcf. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , where the lost circulation zone is located at a depth of up to 5000 feet.